Article Exploring Opportunities for Promoting Synergies between Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Forest Carbon Initiatives Eugene L. Chia 1,*,†, Kalame Fobissie 2 and Markku Kanninen 2 Received: 25 August 2015; Accepted: 1 December 2015; Published: 15 January 2016 Academic Editor: Mark E. Harmon 1 C/o CIFOR P.O. Box 2008, Messa, Yaoundé 237, Cameroon 2 Viikki Tropical Resources Institute, Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Latokartanonkaari 7, P.O. Box 27, Helsinki 00014, Finland; fobissie.kalame@helsinki.fi (K.F.); markku.kanninen@helsinki.fi (M.K.) * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +237-678-057-925; Fax: +237-222-227-450 † Independent Consultant. Abstract: There is growing interest in designing and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation (M + A) in synergy in the forest and land use sectors. However, there is limited knowledge on how the planning and promotion of synergies between M + A can be operationalized in the current efforts to mitigate climate change through forest carbon. This paper contributes to fill this knowledge gap by exploring ways of planning and promoting M + A synergy outcomes in forest carbon initiatives. It examines eight guidelines that are widely used in designing and implementing forest carbon initiatives. Four guiding principles with a number of criteria that are relevant for planning synergy outcomes in forest carbon activities are proposed. The guidelines for developing forest carbon initiatives need to demonstrate that (1) the health of forest ecosystems is maintained or enhanced; (2) the adaptive capacity of forest-dependent communities is ensured; (3) carbon and adaptation benefits are monitored and verified; and (4) adaptation outcomes are anticipated and planned in forest carbon initiatives.